THE EAR'S OIL SUPPLY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 160, 25 November 1926, Page 7

THE EAR'S OIL SUPPLY.

POINTS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. With the new car the motorist is told to drain the oil sump after the first five hundred miles. Without exception this is adhered to mainly because the motorist runs his car into the service station and has the job done by the distributor, the only cost incurred being that of the oil. How important to the car is this draining of sump ? The initial draining is undoubtedly the most important, as the “ wearing" in ” of the engine is the first job during which the rough parts of the engine are worn off, and are liable to get chewed up in the bearings if they are not quickly removed by the draining process. After this the average motorist thinks that he need worry no longer over the oil in the sump, but it would be well to drain regularly, not every five hundred miles perhaps, but as soon as the oil loses its clean appearance and begins to take on that burnt appearance.

There are other things which play havoc with the quality of the lubricant, such as water, and the formatio: of a heavy residue in the sump which causes the oil to deteriorate quickly and set up troubles in the engine. Dealing with these faults it can be said that in the case of water in the lubricant, although the “ choke ” should be used when starting up a cold engine, it should not be left on longer than is necessary. It is also desirable to allow the engine to idle with a closed throttle for a few minutes in order to warm it up before setting out on the road. In cold weather the radiator should be covered or screened in some suitable way until the engine has become warm. An engine which runs n cold ” promotes dillution of the oil much more rapidly since the vaporisation of the mixture is not so complete and some of the fuel sucked into the < ylinders finds its way down the cylinder walls and into the cells. Prolonged idling or driving at a crawl in top gear helps to cause condensation of fuel, which fouls the oil. Keeping the engine in good mechanical trim has a good effect which is pronounced, and where there is excessive wear in the cylinder walls or piston rings it is plain that there must be a considerable leakage past such points.

To attempt to delude oneself into the belief that a quick cure has been wrought simply because of the quieter result obtained from a heavier oil than that officially advised is rank folly.

Lubricant cannot compensate for missing metal which has by proper or gross wear and tear been taken off the frictional surfaces. Needless to add that the oil should be faithfully drained off and renewed at least as frequently as the manufactures stipulate.

In some cases it is still advised that the reservoir should be flushed out with kerosene before refilling, but many experts aver, with apparently good reason, that the kerosene gets into the pockets and ducts and “ cuts ” the new oil.

To prevent the formation of heavy deposits of sludge, in addition to the foregoing directions, see that any oil screens and filters are cleaned at regular intervals, and that the breather caps are not allowed to remain off so that dust and grime can blow into the sump.

While on the subject of the car’s oil it might be said that many motorists particularly novices, “ over feed ” the engine with oil and find that the immediate result is the oiling up of the plugs. This is an aggravating experience and causes a good deal of worry and hard work before the trouble is eliminated.

The oiling up of the plugs tells its tale in the pulling power of the engine, and the feeling is that the engine is missing on a cylinder. The novice often has great difficulty in locating the trouble, but an examination of the plugs will reveal the coating of oil over the inside of the plug.

On most cars there are oil gauges and on others the indicator consists of two taps, one low and the other high. An occasional examination will reveal the quantity of oil in the sump, and it would be as well not to be overgenerous, otherwise the plug trouble

will undoubtedly result. The chief care in the car?s oil supply is to keep it clean, change it often, and don’t over-supply the sump. With clean oil the engine will operate better and the life of the car will be prolonged.